Car coupling



April 4, 1939. .1. GUMKOWSKI 2,153,305

CAR COUPLING 'I Filed May 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. GUMKOWSKI CAR COUPLING April 4, 1939.

Filed May 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Joy/v 5004 0 wa/r/ Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED S'lTES PTN'E' QFFECE one-half to Michael Ill.

Shannon, Johnston City,

Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,093

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplings,

The main object of the invention is to provide a coupling for railroad cars and the like in which coupling the action is simple and positive and takes place or is performed automatically as the cars move together.

Another object is to provide a coupling of this kind in which the connection formed is flexible to a high degree in both horizontal and vertical planes so as to freely permit and allow for. the swaying and play of the cars caused by inequalities and curves in the track upon which they run.

Another object is to provide a coupling which may be readily and safely operated to uncouple the cars without necessitating that the operator or workman place his hands or body in such position as to be jeopardized, the arrangement, being such that this action is accomplished by a handle or lever located at a point remote from the actual coupling elements.

A further object is to provide a coupling including a link resiliently and pivotally connected to and extended from the car, a housing to receive the said link, a pin pivotally mounted in the housing and depended into the path of the link and adapted to engage the same to form a connection between the housing and link, and a shaft located at a point remote from the pin and operatively connected to the pin for raising the same out of engagement with the link.

A further object is to provide a coupling of the foregoing characteristics in a simple, strong and durable form.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the 40 accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coupling.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical and longitudinal section through the coupling showing the position of the parts as the cars move together and just prior to the coupling of the cars.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts in the coupled or connected position.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5--5 in Figure 3.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings the reference character I designates an elongated rectangular coupling box or housing which is secured in any suitable manner to one end of the railroad carindicated. generally at A. This housing l includes the sides 2, bottom 3, top 4 and end 5, the other and outwardly disposed end 6 being open for the entrance of the coupling link to be described. An operating shaft 1 is journaled horizontally through the sides 2 of the housing I at a point remote from the open end ii and projects at its ends from the housing as shown. An arm 8 is secured centrally on the operating shaft 1 and is radially extending therearrangement being such that the said rod 9 may i be raised by slightly rotating the operating shaft 1 as will be understood. A locking or coupling pin i2 is pivotally connected by one end to the supporting rod 9 and depends therefrom, the upper end of the pin preferably being disposed between the forks on the end of the arm 8. The grooves H terminate at their lower ends at such point that the lower end of the pin l2 normally depends into a slot l3 out in the bottom it of the coupling housing l, the said slot being so disposed and of such length that the pin rests in engagement with the forward or outer end thereof which serves as a stop, but may be swung rearwardly or inwardly and upwardly and will clear the rear or inner end of the slot without raising the rod 9 as shown in Figure 3.

A base plate or attaching element It is mounted on or extended from the end of the car B and a bracket I5 is secured by its foot portion I6 to this base plate, the bracket having an arm ll disposed above and parallel to the base plate as shown. A belt or similar fastener 88 is passed vertically through the arm H and base plate i4 and has a nut 59 at its lower end. An elongated open coupling link 2| having end bights 22 and 23 is provided, and a loop 2i formed of flat strip material encircles the link adjacent the bight 22. The loop 24 has medially located and aligned apertures 25 through which the bolt l8 loosely passes. An expansion coil spring 26 is coiled around the bolt l8 and is braced between the arm ii of the bracket i5 and the loop- 24. The arrangement is such that the link 2! is loosely pivoted on the bolt l8 and may swing in a lateral plane thereon and may also move upward or downward at its outer end to some degree. The spring 26 allows these movements of the link 2| and will normally retain the link in the horizontal position shown.

In operation and as the ends of the cars A and B move together the outer end of the link 2! will enter the open end 6 of the housing i and will strike the locking pin 12 forcing the same inward and upward at its lower end clear of the slot [3 as shown in Figure 3 until the link passes beneath the pin. The pin l2 will fall forward within the bight 23 of the link 2| and will thus prevent the link from pulling out forwardly from the housing as the lower end of the pin comes in engagement with the forward end of the slot I3 or the forward portion 3a of the bottom 3 forming the forward margin of the slot. This marginal portion 3a thus serves as a stop limiting the forward swing of the pin l2. The cars are thus held connected together but at the same time the connection is suiiiciently flexible to permit the swaying and turning of the cars in motion, this by virtue particularly of the con.- nection of the link to the bolt I8 as described. The ends of the supporting rod 9 slidably engage the sides of the box or housing, thus bracing the elements against severe lateral strain that might otherwise throw them out of working alignment. To release the link 2| forwardly the operating shaft 1 is rotated slightly swinging the arm 8 upward and raising the locking pin I2 out of the blght of the link. To facilitate this rotation of the operating shaft 1 cranks or handles 21 are provided in the ends thereof. It will be noted that the operation of uncoupling the cars is thus accomplished without placing the hands near the actual coupling elements, thereby effectually pre-- venting injury to the operator. As an aid to guiding the link 2| into the open end 6 of the housing I flaring or diverging guide wings 28 are secured to and extended from the sides 2 as shown. It is understood that each car has one coupling housing I and one link 2! and its connection as described disposed at opposite ends of the car to engage the coupling elements of adjacent cars in conventional manner.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a car coupling assembly of the kind described, a base plate for mounting upon an end of a car, an angular bracket having a foot portion secured to the base plate and having an arm extended outwardly therefrom and in parallelism with the base plate, an elongated open coupling link having one end positioned between the base plate and the said arm, a-fiat spring-supporting loop embracing this end of the coupling link, a bolt passed through the bracket arm, through the flat spring-supporting loop of the underlying end of the coupling link and through the base plate, and an expansion coil spring seated over the bolt and braced at its ends between the bracket arm and the upper side of the springsupporting loop, whereby the coupling link is maintained in a substantially horizontal alignment for engaging at its free open end a co-opcrating coupling assembly at the end of an adjacent car.

2. In a car coupling assembly including a horizontally disposed base plate at one end of a car and a bracket upon the base plate having an outwardly extended arm spaced from the base plate, there being a bolt passed down through the outer end of the arm and through the base plate, and there being an elongated open coupling link having one end embracing the said bolt, a fiat spring supporting loop: embracing the bolt engaging end of the coupling link with the lower side of the loop in contact with the upper face of the base plate, and an expansion coil spring seated over the bolt and braced at its ends between the bracket arm and the upper face of the spring supporting loop around the end of the coupling link, whereby the coupling link is horizontally and yieldably supported in substantially horizontal alignment for engaging at its free end a cooperating coupling assembly at the end of another car.

JOHN GUMKOW SKI. 

